Photo: Rivers A. Langley; SaveRivers · CC BY-SA 3.0Where Shorter residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Shorter, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Shorter. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Shorter
Stroke, diabetes and heart disease run high in Shorter
1 in 15 adults have had a stroke (6.5%), vs 4.1% across Alabama. 1 in 4 adults have diabetes (22.5%), vs 14.8% across Alabama. Heart disease is also above the state: 9.5%, vs 7.3% across Alabama. In all, Shorter runs above Alabama on six of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 38% of residents are 65 or older (Alabama 18%), and stroke, diabetes and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
Making ends meet is harder in Shorter
3 in 10 adults worry about having enough food (29.5%), vs 19.2% across Alabama. Utility shut-off threats (14.8% vs 9.6%) and housing insecurity (20.9% vs 13.9%) are higher too. 23.4% of adults receive SNAP, vs 14% statewide. Everyday needs ↓
More Shorter adults get no exercise
36.5% of adults get no exercise outside work, vs 28.7% across Alabama. Habits ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Alabama figure falls outside Shorter’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Shorter adults…
Shorter runs below AL on 1 of 12 conditions and above it on 7. Tap one to see it as people.
Shorter is an older town: 38% of residents are 65 or older, vs 18% across Alabama. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Shorter as about how healthy they are.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
23.4% of Shorter adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 14% across Alabama.
Everyday habits, side by side with Alabama
Share of adults, with the Alabama figure marked.
Walk with neighbors
The easiest exercise habit to keep is one with company.
Care in and near Shorter
No hospital or community health center in Shorter itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Shorter; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
Keeping up with care
Share of Shorter adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Alabama.
How Shorter adults are doing
On 1 of 4 measures, Shorter runs above Alabama.
2 in 5 Shorter adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Shorter and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Shorter adults live with a disability (Alabama 36.5%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Shorter
Why doesn’t Shorter have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Shorter.
What hospital is closest to Shorter?
Community Hospital in Tallassee, 9.6 miles in a straight line from Shorter’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. It has no Medicare star rating.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Shorter.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Alabama figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.